Non-toxic cadmium concentrations induce vascular inflammation and promote atherosclerosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cadmium is a potential new risk factor for early atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in humans, yet pathogenetic mechanisms are still a matter of debate.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

In-depth histological analysis of 18 sections taken from 6 cadmium-fed ApoE-/- mice and 12 sections from 5 litter-mates not exposed to cadmium by light and scanning electron microscopy was performed. Cadmium-fed mice showed a marked increase in lesion load (plaque area) and severity as classified according to the American Heart Association vascular lesion grading. All inflammatory markers studied (CD68, CD3, CD25, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60)) yielded a higher expression in cadmium-fed mice. Statistical difference was achieved for VCAM-1 and Hsp60 (P=0.03 and P=0.02). The shoulder region of atherosclerotic plaques in cadmium-fed mice showed a prominent retraction of endothelial cells on electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data indicate that cadmium exposure amplifies the development of vessel pathology in atherosclerosis susceptible ApoE-/- mice and suggests upregulation of VCAM-1 and Hsp60 and endothelial leakage as potential pathomechanisms.

• Authors: Michael Knoflach, Barbera Messner, Ying H Shen, Sandra Frotschnig, Guanghui Liu, Kristian Pfaller, Xingli Wang, Benjamin Matosevic, Johann Willeit, Stefan Kiechl, Günther Laufer, David Bernhard
• Journal: Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society (Circ J) Vol. 75 Issue 10 Pg. 2491-5 ( 2011) ISSN: 1347-4820 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 21799275 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoproteins E
• Chaperonin 60
• Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
• Cadmium

Topics

• Animals
• Apolipoproteins E (deficiency)
• Atherosclerosis (chemically induced)
• Cadmium (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Chaperonin 60 (analysis)
• Endothelium, Vascular (pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (pathology)
• Up-Regulation
• Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (analysis)
• Vasculitis (chemically induced)